JAMIE ELLIOTT (Collingwood)Collingwood insiders have known how good he is for some time. Now the outside world does. Very good overhead and cool in front of goal.

MICHAEL HIBBERD (Essendon)Injuries cruelled Hibberd last year, but has shown over the past five weeks how important he is to the Bombers. Was enormous on Anzac Day.

JONATHON GRIFFEN (Fremantle)Is it fair to suggest Aaron Sandilands may spend more time forward than in the ruck when he returns? On Griffen's current form, that's highly possible.

MATHEW STOKES (Geelong)Stokes said he was disgusted with his performance last season. And some wondered if Allen Christensen and Steven Motlop might edge him out. But Stokes has been back to his best this season, averaging 25 disposals.

CHARLIE DIXON (Gold Coast)Broke the record for the most goals kicked in a game for the Suns - six against the Giants last week. Was OK last year, but has shown good improvement in his third season.

LACHIE WHITFIELD (Greater Western Sydney)Sounds weird to have a No.1 draft pick as a surprise-packet. But we've been impressed at how good he has been as early as his first five games. A real jet.

MAX BAILEY (Hawthorn)One of the feel-good stories of the AFL. Bailey has been able to hold onto the No.1 ruck mantle, while Jarryd Roughead and David Hale have been mainly used forward. Deserved a change of luck.

JEREMY HOWE (Melbourne)No longer just a marking freak-show, Howe has become one of the Demons' shining light in a year full of gloom.

Lindsay Thomas celebrates a goal against Geelong.Source: Herald Sun

LINDSAY THOMAS (North Melbourne)If someone had told you a few years ago Thomas would be leading the Coleman Medal - with 21.6 - after five rounds, you might have been certified. Slightly rectified the yips last year, but just can't miss this season.

JUSTIN WESTHOFF (Port Adelaide)Could easily have been 10 Port players, including the reborn Kane Cornes. But Westhoff has gone from talented but flaky forward with questionable mental toughness to one of the most damaging forwards in the AFL.

LUKE McGUANE (Richmond)Has showed his late 2012 season switch to attack was no fluke. Originally recruited as a forward and seems to be more at home there.

DYLAN ROBERTON (St Kilda)Hard to pinpoint Saint surprises, but the former Docker has been serviceable in the absence of Gwilt and others so far.

LUKE PARKER (Sydney)The sub in Sydney's Grand Final win last season. Judging on his start to 2013, and his outstanding performance in NZ, he has become a key player.

CALLUM SINCLAIR (West Coast)One surprise has been mature-aged rookie big-man Sinclair, who might have attracted the attention of a few rivals AFL clubs. He's not destined to play a lot of footy this year with Nic Naitanui about to return, but has been OK.

WILL MINSON (Western Bulldogs)Minson made solid improvement last year, yet didn't finish in the top 10 of the B&F. This year he has taken a bigger leap. No ruckman in the AFL has had as many hit-outs or hit-outs to advantage.

For a variety of reasons, we're sorry we underestimated or undervalued you blokes. You've started 2013 well, keep up the good work.

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